2021 Kia Cerato facelift on sale in Australia – sporting the new logo

The 2021 Kia Cerato facelifted model has gone on sale for the Australian market from $25,490 – and it’s wearing the Korean marque’s new badge for the first time.

The launch line-up includes all 2.0-litre variants, with the flagship 1.6-litre turbo GT model due in June.

As well as donning Kia’s new logo, the upgraded Cerato also features a new-look face with styling changes to its headlights, radiator grille, front bumper and fog lights.

The changes extend to the rear of the sedan with updated taillights, boot lid and bumper lines. The hatch version remains largely unchanged, according to the manufacturer. (Images of the hatch model are still to be released, and indeed there is still no full local gallery available of the updated Cerato.)

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Features

The base-model S now receives wireless Apple CarPlay and wired or wireless Android Auto integration via the 8-inch touchscreen, which is matched to a 4.2-inch colour TFT LCD driver information cluster.

The next-in-line Sport specification now gets 17-inch alloy wheel and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen unit with 10 years of free map updates.

Sport+ continues to offer heated seats upholstered in leather, dual-zone climate control with an auto defog function, a smart key with push-button start and Smart Cruise Control, along with an electrochromic rear-view mirror, aeroblade front wipers and larger rear brakes.

Rear air vents now come as standard in every Cerato, but only the range-topping GT scores the sliding sunroof.

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Shown: Korean-market 'K3', with styling largely identical to Australian-market Cerato

Powertrains

The familiar 2.0 litre four-cylinder MPI and six-speed automatic transmission already installed in the current Cerato, S, Sport and Sport+ carries over to the updated range, producing the same 112kW of power and 192Nm of torque.

The halo GT model continues with the four-cylinder 1.6 litre turbo engine found in its predecessor, producing 150kW at 6,000rpm and 265Nm of torque.

For a view on how these powertrains perform, see our reviews of the existing line-up at the link below.

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Shown: Korean-market 'K3', with styling largely identical to Australian-market Cerato

Safety

New safety technology includes Rear Seat Alert, LED Daytime Running Lights and Lane Following Assist fitted as standard for all variants.

The Sport+ and GT trim grades also gain Blind Collision Avoidance Assist and an electronic parking brake.

Opting for the extra Safety Pack adds some of the features already fitted to the aforementioned Sport+ variants to the lower spec S and Sport for an additional $1000, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (or AEB for short; detecting cars, pedestrians and cyclists), Smart Cruise Control, larger rear brakes and an electric parking brake.

Electric folding mirrors, blind-spot detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are also included.

The Cerato has officially now overtaken its hugely popular Rio sibling as the brand’s number-one selling car in Australia, shifting almost 153,918 units versus the Rio's 153,411 – despite being three years younger (the Rio originally launched here in 2000).

The new Cerato in S, Sport and Sport+ trims will start arriving in Kia dealerships this week, with the GT joining the range in mid-June.

Safety pack includes

• Electronic Parking Brake
• Autonomous Emergency Braking 'Fusion II' (Car/Ped/Cyc)
• 15-inch Rear Disc Brake
• Smart Cruise Control
• Blind Spot Detection
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Electric Folding Mirror
• Leather Steering Knob and Steering Wheel (standard on Sport model)

2021 Kia Cerato pricing for Australia

• Cerato S - $25,990 drive-away ($25,490 RRP)
• Cerato S with Safety Pack - $27,490 drive-away ($26,490 RRP)
• Cerato Sport - $27,990 drive-away ($27,590 RRP)
• Cerato Sport with Safety Pack - $29,490 drive-away ($28,590 RRP)
• Cerato Sport+ - $31,690 drive-away ($30,640 RRP)
• Cerato GT – due in June, $TBC (outgoing model is $34,190 RRP)